Latinos thrive in radio and TV despite Trump

( CNN) While President Donald Trump was focusing on constructing a wall along our southern border, a sound barrier across the Western Hemisphere was being shattered by the Latin beat wafting across the airwaves.

Reigning on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart at No. 1 is the Spanish-language song “Despacito( Remix ), ” featuring Justin Bieber and Puerto Rican- American singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. Not since “Macarena” dominated the coveted slot in 1996 has a Spanish language chant soared and reached such crossover adoption. “Despacito” was already a Spanish-language reach, but it was the remix with Bieber that hurled the anthem smack into the mainstream.

At a time when many US Latinos are feeling marginalized and under attack from political rhetoric on the right and ineffective representation on the left, Spanish popping anthems that galvanize an American audience are a recognition that Latinos are part of the American landscape. In addition, a wellspring of Latino TV roleshas begun to counter inflammatory images with contemporary Latino profiles.